Shoe sole laying mechanism



April 29, 1941,

Filed Oct. 10, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 63 21a Z0 I 25 7 5 7 320 721501" fi/zzz/WzlionlZo/zrer;

April 29, 1941. J. M. ROHRER 2,239,737 A SHOE SOLE LAYING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 10, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v April 29, 1941. M ROH'RE I 2,239,737

SHOE SOLE LAYING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 10, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 j 71 L, 3: 72 70 75 I i'""' 7 a 77 I 250, ZL

April 29, 1941- J. M. ROHRER SHOE SOLE LAYING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 10, 1958 Irwerzivr Jokrzm'ltoizkohrez; 2y

Patented Apr. 29, 1941 ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,2393% SHOE SOLE LAYING MEOHANISM' John Milton Rohrer, O'nwigsburg, Pa.- Application October 10, 1938 SerialNo. 234,321

8 Claims.

My present invention relates to the manufacture of shoes and is the nature of certain improvements in connection with the mechanism forming the subject of my application for patent filed August 26, 1933, Serial No. 686,937; (now Patent No. 2,132,440, dated October 11, 1938).

One object of my present invention is to improve the design of the structure and to provide means to facilitate the raising and lowering of the swinging levers carrying the wiping fingers which efiect the outturning and laying down of the projecting portion of the upper with respect to the last supporting the same preparatory to applying a sole thereto, as well as the clamping head associated with said swinging levers and which clamps the sole to the lasted upper.

A further object of my invention is to provide motor means for operating these swinging levers land the clamping head associated therewiththat is to sayefieoting the raising and lowering. of the same with respect to the lasted upper.

A further object of my invention is to provide themotor means adjacent to the support for the swinging levers and the clamping head, with operating. means in the form of a foottreadle or treadles adjacent. to the floor whereby the operator may control the raising and lowering of the swinging levers and the clamping head by the foot, while manipulating the, swinging levers into and out of cooperative relation with respect to the lasted'upper by hand.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the wiping fingers may be mounted independently of each other; each of such fingers being carried independently by a separate block or support pivotally mounted and having individual springs maintaining them in position for use.

A further object of my invention is to provide means carried by the clamping-member or head for supporting the soles in proper registering position with respect to the lasted upper so that a sole may be applied in proper position to the lasted upper as the clamping member or head is lowered into engagement therewith.

These and other features of my invention,

which will be more fully pointed hereinafter, are.

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, more or less diagrammatic in character, in which;

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of mechanism within the scope of my invention for applying soles to lasted uppers disposed in pulled-over and stretched condition on a last and showing'operating means for certain portions of the mechanism inwhichmotor mechanism is employed.

Fig-2. is. a fragmentary view illustrating a modification of the operating means shown in Fig. l. within the: scope of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sole-applying mechanism, and the outturning mechanism employed to outturn the projection portion of a lasted upper; illustrating details of my present invention.

. Fig. 4 is. afragmentary View, partly in section and. on. a larger scale, illustrating the outrturning. fingers for spreading the projecting portion of the lasted upper.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4; the fingers being illustrated as overlying a lasted upper.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the sole-applying and clamping element.

Fig. 7 is an inverted view of the clamping element, showing the clamping plate portion thereof provided with means for temporarily retaining a sole preparatory to applying the same to the lasted upper; such sole being indicated by broken lines, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a form of retaining member carried by thev clamping plate for supporting the sole preparatory to placing the same on a lasted upper; a series of such retaining members being employed, as indicated in In general the mechanism of my present invention operates substantially in the manner of that illustrated in my prior patent before referred to. In the mechanism therein described, I employed hand-operated means for raising and lowering the head carrying the clamping member and the swinging levers which carried the owtturning fingers. the subject of my present invention, I propose to employ motor means to efiect this operation.

A table or other suitable means is provided to carry a support for the lasted upper or the sectional mold l0 receiving the same; such table being indicated at H, and when the sectional mold is. employed to receive the lasted uppers, levers I2- are employed to hold the sections of the mold in clamping position with respect to the pulled-over and stretched upper upon a last contained within the same. These levers I2 are held in clamping position by springs 13, and a treadle I4 is employed to. retract such levers to permit opening of the sectional mold when it is desired to place a lasted upper therein or to remove the lasted upper to which the sole has been In the mechanismforming;

ing member and its related mechanism is illustrated generally at l5, and is carried by a vertical shaft or spindle |6, which also carries a plate ll, to which the swinging levers are pivotally connected; such mechanism being substantially if not exactly the same as in my prior patent. In the present instance I have provided a standard 26, which may extend from the floor in proper relation to or connected with the table II, and the upper portion of this standard overhangs said table. It carries suitable guiding and supporting means for the shaft or spindle l6 so that the clamping head or member and associated mechanism and the swinging levers may be suspended in proper position with respect to the lasted upper mounted on the table I.

In the present instance, the shaft or spindle is toothed as indicated at l6 for engagement by a pinion 2|, on the end of a shaft 22, carrying a worm wheel 23 which may be driven by a worm 24 at the end of a flexible shaft 25, driven by a motor 26, which may be suitably supported by the frame of the table.

The driving means associated with said motor is preferably in the form of beveled friction wheels or rollers-cones, or the like. The motor shaft 21 carries a worm 2i engaging a worm wheel 28 on a shaft 29 supported in suitable brackets 23 The motor moves constantly in the same direction and the shaft 29 carries a pair of driven rollers 38 and 3|, with beveled-faces, which rollers may be shifted alternately into engagement with a beveled roller 32 on the end of the flexible shaft 25, and said rollers 30 and 3| may be normally maintained out of contact with the roller 32.

The respective driven rolls 36 and 3| are under the control of a lever 35 which is pivo-tally mounted at 35 and one end of such lever is in operative engagement with a collar 36 on the shaft 29 and operatively connected to the rollers 30 and 3|. When this lever 35 is rocked in one direction, the roller 36 is moved into frictional engagement with the beveled rollers 32 carried by the flexible shaft 25 and when it is moved in the opposite direction the roller 3| is moved into engagement with the roller 32. The rollers 36 and 3| may be suitably connected with the shaft 29 in the manner of usual coned friction gearing.

To effect movement of the lever 35, I provide suitable treadle mechanism, duplex in character. The lever 35 is pivoted at 35, and connected to the end of the same opposite the connection with the collar 36, is a rod 46, the lower end of which is connected at 46 to a foot treadle 41, fulcrumed at 41 The foot treadle 41 is pivotally connected at 47* to a foot treadle 48, fulcrumed at 48 When it is desired to raise the shaft or spindle I6 and the clamping mechanism and the swinging levers associated therewith, the lever 35 is actuated to lower the upper roller 30 into engagement with they roller 32 on the end of the flexible shaft 25, and this may be done by depressing the treadle 48. Motion is then transmitted through the flexible shaft 25 to the worm 24, to move the shaft 22 and raise the shaft or spindle |6 carrying the clamping mechanism and the swinging levers. When it is desired to lower the same into proper operative position with respect to the lasted upper, the treadle 41 is depressed; the roller 3| is brought into engagement with the beveled roller 32 on the end of the flexible shaft and the motion of the same is reversed, and such movement being transmitted to the worm 24, the shaft 22, through its pinion 2|, will lower the shaft or spindle l6. By preference the weight of the clamping mechanism and the swinging levers and associated parts may be counterbalanced by a suitable weight, indicated at 50, and operatively arranged with respect to the shaft or spindle l6 and the parts supported thereby, as in my prior patent.

In lieu of employing a flexible shaft as the means of effecting movement of a shaft such as 22, operatively arranged to actuate the shaft or spindle I6, I may employ a motor carried by the standard 20, as illustrated in Fig. 2, with friction roll reversing mechanism for utilizing the power of a motor driven in one direction. In this arrangement, the motor is indicated at 5|, and arranged to drive a worm 52, in engagement with a worm wheel 53 on the end of a shaft 54, which carries a pair of beveled rollers 55 and 56. Above these rollers a shaft 22 is mounted (like shaft 22) and this shaft carries a pinion 2 l in engagement with the shaft or spindle IS. The shaft 22 carries a worm wheel 23 which, in this instance is driven by a worm 24 carried by a vertically arranged shaft 6|, having a beveled roller 62, which may operatively engage either of the beveled rollers 55 or 56, which are longitudinally shiftable on the shaft 54. To effect this movement I provide a rock shaft .63, mounted in. the head of the standard 26; one end of said shaft 63 carrying an arm 64 in engagement with a collar 54 on the shaft 54 connected to the rollers 55 and 56 so that said rollers may be moved in either direction when the arm 64 is moved. The opposite end of the shaft 63 carries an arm 65, and to this arm is connected a rod I46, which is operated by the treadle mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1; rod I46 being the equivalent for operating the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, of the rod 1 46 illustrated in Fig. 1 as under the influence of the treadles 41 and 4B. When the rod M6 is lowered, the roller 55 mounted on the shaft 54 is moved to the right, and through the motor means and gearing illustrated, the shaft or spindle l6 carrying the clamping mechanism and the swinging levers will be raised. When the rod M6 is raised, the roller 56 mounted on the shaft 54 will be moved'to the left, and through the motor means and the gearing, the shaft or spindle I6 and the clamping mechanism and the swinging levers will be lowered. This raising and lowering of the rod I46 is effected by the treadles 41 and 4B, in the same manner as said treadles actuate the rod 46, shown in Fig. 1, to operate the motor means therein disclosed, wherein the motion to raise and lower the shaft or spindle I6 is transmitted by the flexible shaft.

It will be understood, of course, that I may employ other forms of motor means for effecting the raising and lowering of. the shaft or spindle I6 and its connected parts, and that the operation I of the same electrical motor means for direct drive and wherein the motor may be reversed, is within the scope of my invention.

When properly positioned on the last and dis-' ls'to' be-outturned. Inmy prior patent, means are: illustrated and described for outturning the projecting portion of theupper in order that the sole-may lee-properly applied over the lasted upper and such outturned portion; such meansbeing arranged above the mold and the lasted upper therein. The outturning means comprises flexiblefingers carried by depending swinging levers which may beactuated with respect-to the lasted upper; such fingers being lowered into engagement with the last and the upper thereon and then-moved outwardly so that the projecting portion of the upper may be outturned, ready for the reception of a sole.

My'p-resent improvements insofar as they relate to this outturning of the projecting portion of the upper comprise-a mounting for the springcontrolled fingers which will serve to efieot this outturning of the projecting portion of the upper in a more efficient manner than is possible with the arrangement heretofore shown.

Asin the mechanism of my prior patent, the structurev illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings herewith is substantially the same asthat shown in Fig. 2 of my prior patent and operates in substantially the same manner. This structure has the levers l8-six in number--such levers being so disposed that the outturmng means car'- ried by the lower ends of the same and hereafter described may be properly positioned or position themselves with respect to various parts of the projecting portion of the upper that is to be outturned. The last is shown at A; the upper at B, and the projecting portion of the upper at b, in Fig. 3. Each of the levers carries at its lower end a box-like member lb, supporting a series of spring-pressed fingers l ifour (4) in number in the present instancewhich fingers are spaced apart in the manner indicated. 'These fingers are in the form of slender wires, and their ends may be nicked or grooved at Ti as in my prior patent. As the construction is the same in each instance, only one of the, box-like members carried by the ends of the levers it will be described. The box-like members 'lil are carried by the ends of the levers l8 and may be supportedon the ends of threaded stems 72, pivoted to the levers at 72 and adjustable with respect to the same; resting upon an adjusting screw 13 and held in contact with the latter by'a spring M. Such arrangement permits the carrier forthe fingers H to rise during the wiping operation. The box-like members 'lil may be yoke-shaped with side walls between which the mountings for the fingers are disposed. In the present instance, these mountings consist of individual blocks I5, pivotally mounted on a cross-bar 7; each finger being carried by a separate block. The box-like member is provided with a cross-pin Til which serves as a stop for these individual blocks, and each block is provided with a separate spring 75 so that eachfinger H is free to act independently and may thus more efficiently spread in outturned position the projecting portion of the upper. This condition is highly desirable in view of the undulatory surface of the mold and enables the fingers to automatically adjust themselves over various portions of the last as they are drawn out to spread and outturn the projecting portion of the upper. The fingers may be carried by the blocks in the manner indicated in Fig. 4; being disposed in an aperture of the finger may engage. Each finger is held infixed position in its block by a suitablelscrew l8. It will be understood, of course, that-the fingers are of flexible metal so thattheyare susceptible iof fl'exure when lowered into enga-gement with the lasted upper and: moved over the same.

The levers are actuated in a manner identically the same as in my prior patent; said levers being lowered with the fingers in the inward position bringing them into engagement with the last uponwhich the upper is stretched and, when they are lowered, they are moved against the tension of the spring 15 so as to press down, each one individually, a definite portion of the projecting part of theupper. They are then moved outwardly to spread the projecting portion of the upper just in advance of theappli cation of the sole and, as the mold as well as tion insure that they will not remove an excessof the cement applied to the under side of the sole since such fingers may contact with such surface as they are withdrawn across the projeoting portion of the upper. Just as the fingers leave the marginal edge of the outturned portion, the sole has been lowered so as to be di-' rectly applicable to such turned out portion and insure prop-er positioning of such part with respect to the sole.

After a sole has been applied to-the outturned. portion of a lasted upper and cemented thereto,

. such sole may be sewn in place after a welt of usual type is applied over such outturned portion opposite or over the sole. When a sole is applied to a lasted upper having the projecting portion wiped inwardly over an insole carried by the last, such sole may be sewn to such insole through the wiped portion of the upper in the usual manner common in the manufacture of shoes.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have shown means in connection with the mechanism for clamping a sole to the lasted upper, for holding the sole in position over the upper. Fig. 6 shows the clamping plate 86, to the underside of which the sole to be applied'to the lasted upper is placed. This mechanism operates in a'manner precisely similarly to the mechanism of my prior patent. In thepresent instance, this plate receives in recesses 8|, members 82 having tapered ends that are annularly grooved at 83; the portions providing such grooves having relatively sharp edges. A series of these members are provided, as indicated in Fig. '7, at such positions as engage the sole, indicated by the broken lines. The soles are of substantially the right size, so that when the operator presses them up against the clamping plate, they will be held by the relatively sharp edges of the members 82. By tapering these members and providing a series of grooves, provision is made for accommodating soles of difierent size. The members 82 are resiliently held in the recesses 8|, by springs 84.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the foregoing embodiments more or less particularly described and illustrated, without departing from my invention, all of which is believed to be within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism, the combination with means for supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last, of a vertically movable frame arranged for movement toward and from the lasted upper for the purpose of applying a sole to the same, a series of swinging levers carried by said frame and arranged for movement into and out of operative relation with respect to the lasted upper, a series of individually pivoted and tensioned wiping fingers carried by each of said levers, means for moving said fingers outwardly across the lasted upper to outturn the projecting por tion of the same, a vertically disposed shaft or spindle supporting said frame, a fixed standard in which said shaft or spindle is movably mounted, and motor means including a rack element and a pinion engaging the same for raising and lowering said shaft or spindle.

2. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism, the combination with means for supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last, of a vertically movable frame arranged for movement toward and from the lasted upper for the purpose of applying a sole to the same, a series of swinging levers carried by said frame and arranged for movement into and out of operative relation with respect to the lasted upper, a series of individually pivoted wiping fingers carried by each of said levers, individual tension means for said fingers, means for actuating said levers to mov said fingers outwardly across the lasted upper and outturn the projecting portion of the same, a vertically disposed shaft or spindle supporting said frame, a fixed standard in which said shaft or spindle is mounted, and motor means including a rack element and a pinion engaging the same carried by the standard directly adjacent to said shaft or spindle for raising and lowering the same.

3. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism, the combination with means for supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last, of a vertically movable frame having sole-supporting means in vertical alignment with the lasted upper, a series of depending levers pivotally connected to said frame and arranged to swing inwardly and outwardly with respect to the same, a series of individually pivoted and tensioned wiping fingers carried by each of said levers, a vertical shaft supporting said frame, a fixed standard having a portion overhanging the lasted upper; said standard having a support for the shaft carrying the lever-supporting frame whereby the latter may be disposed over the lasted upper, motor means including a rack element and a pinion engaging the same for raising and lowering said shaft, and means for manually operating said levers to effect movement of the wiping fingers outwardly across the lasted upper to outturn the projecting portion of the same,

' versible mechanism for raising and lowering the frame through the movement of said toothed shaft.

5. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism, the combination with means for supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last, of a plurality of swinging levers suspended above said lasted upper and movable toward and from the same, flexible outturning fingers hung from said levers, individual blocks pivotally mounted in said swinging levers for individually supporting said fingers, individual springs for separately imparting tension to said fingers, and means for moving the fingers over the projecting portion of the upper to outturn and fiatten the same.

6. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism, the combination with means for supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last, of a plurality of swinging levers suspended above said lasted upper and movable toward and from the same, flexible outturning fingers hung from said levers and arranged for movement across such projecting portion, resiliently-supported blocks pivotally mounted in said swinging levers and carrying individual fingers, and means for moving the levers to carry the fingers over the projecting portion of the upper to outturn and flatten the same preparatory to applying a sole thereto.

'7. In shoesole-applying mechanism, the combination with means for supporting a lasted upper in pulled over and stretched condition; such upper having a portion projecting above the last, of a swinging lever suspended above said lasted upper and movable toward and from the same, means for imparting vertical movement to said lever, a plurality of flexible fingers pivotally mounted in the end of said lever and individually movable with respect to the same, and springs for separately imparting tension to said fingers to hold them in position for wiping application to the projecting portion of the upper preparatory to applying a sole thereto.

8. In shoe-sole-applying mechanism, the combination with means for supporting a lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition, of a vertically movable clamping plate for applying soles to lasted uppers, so supported, adjustably mounted tapered members with annular grooves providing relatively sharp edges carried by said plate for temporarily holding said soles prior to application to lasted uppers presented beneath the same, and resilient means supporting said adjustably mounted members.

JOHN MILTON ROHRER. 

